Force distributing apparatus having first and second portions for a bicycle wheel spoke

ABSTRACT

A force-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke attachment element includes a force-distributing body having a free-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface. The first surface is disposed on a first portion of the force-distributing body, the second surface is disposed on a second portion of the force-distributing body, and the first surface may have the shape of a truncated sphere. The force-distributing body includes a spoke-receiving opening that extends into the first portion to form a spoke-receiving axis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/654,719 filed Oct. 18, 2012 and titled “Force Distributing Apparatusfor a Bicycle Wheel Spoke,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/369,489 filed Feb. 9, 2012 and titled“Force Distributing Apparatus for a Bicycle Wheel Spoke.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to bicycle wheels and, moreparticularly, to a force-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheelspoke.

A typical bicycle wheel comprises a hub that is rotatably mounted arounda hub shaft, an annular rim structured to support a tire, and aplurality of spokes that connect the hub to the rim. The hub typicallyincludes a pair of spaced-apart hub flanges, wherein each hub flangeincludes a plurality of circumferentially-disposed openings. The wheelrim also includes a plurality of circumferentially-disposed openings.Each spoke typically has an enlarged head at one end and a threadedshaft at the other end. The spoke extends through a correspondingopening in one of the hub flanges and through a corresponding opening inthe wheel rim until the head abuts against the hub flange. The spoke isfastened to the wheel rim by a threaded nut that is screwed onto thethreaded shaft and abuts against the wheel rim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to various features of aforce-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke. In oneembodiment, a force-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spokecomprises a force-distributing body having a free-end first surface anda second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface. Thefirst surface is disposed on a first portion of the force-distributingbody, the second surface is disposed on a second portion of theforce-distributing body, and the first surface has the shape of atruncated sphere. The force-distributing body includes a spoke-receivingopening that extends into the first portion to form a spoke-receivingaxis.

In another embodiment, force distributing apparatus is provided for abicycle wheel spoke, wherein the spoke is structured to be mounted to ahub flange of a bicycle wheel hub, and wherein the hub flange includesan opening with a flange-opening axis. The apparatus comprises aforce-distributing body including a free-end first surface disposed on afirst portion of the force-distributing body, a second surface disposedat an opposite side of the first surface on a second portion of theforce-distributing body, and a spoke-receiving opening that extends intothe first portion to form a spoke-receiving axis. The first surface ofthe force-distributing body is structured to engage the hub flange whenthe spoke is mounted to the hub flange, and at least one of the firstsurface or the second surface is shaped to allow the spoke to move inany lateral direction relative to the flange-opening axis.

Additional inventive features will become apparent from the descriptionbelow, and such features alone or in combination with the above featuresand their equivalents may form the basis of further inventions asrecited in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of a bicyclewheel hub with a spoke and a force-distributing apparatus mounted to ahub flange in a rest position;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed perspective view showing the relationship ofthe hub flange, the spoke, and the force-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the force-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of the force-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of aforce-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a plurality of spokes mounted to a hubflange of the bicycle wheel hub using the alternative force-distributingapparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7A is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aforce-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 7B is a rear perspective view of another alternative embodiment ofa force-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, of anotheralternative embodiment of a force-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of aforce-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a plurality of spokes mounted to a hubflange of the bicycle wheel hub using the alternative force-distributingapparatus shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of aforce-distributing apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a plurality of spokes mounted to a hubflange of the bicycle wheel hub using the alternative force-distributingapparatus shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle wheel hub 10 that comprises ahollow hub body 14, a first hub flange unit 18, a second hub flange unit22, and a brake rotor fixing unit 26. First hub flange unit 18 includesa plurality of circumferentially-disposed and radially-extending hubflanges 18 a, each of which has a first spoke-mounting opening 30 and asecond spoke-mounting opening 34. Each first spoke-mounting opening 30includes a clockwise-facing contact surface 30 a, and each secondspoke-mounting opening 34 includes a counterclockwise-facing contactsurface 34 a. Similarly, second hub flange unit 22 includes a pluralityof circumferentially-disposed and radially-extending hub flanges 22 a,each of which has a first spoke-mounting opening 38 and a secondspoke-mounting opening 42. Each first spoke-mounting opening 38 includesa counterclockwise-facing contact surface 38 a, and each secondspoke-mounting opening 42 includes a clockwise-facing contact surface 42a. Brake rotor fixing unit 26 comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially-disposed splines 46 that are used to mount aconventional disk brake rotor.

FIG. 1 shows a spoke 50 mounted to hub flange 22 in a rest position. Asshown in FIG. 2, spoke 50 includes an elongated spoke body 50 a and aspoke attachment element in the form of a spoke head 50 b, wherein spokebody 50 a extends through first opening 38 in hub flange 22 a. In thisembodiment, spoke head 50 b includes a contact surface 50 c in the formof a frustum of a hemisphere. A force-distributing apparatus in the formof a force-distributing member 54 is disposed between contact surface 38a of hub flange 22 a and contact surface 50 c of spoke 50.

As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b , force-distributing member 54 includes aforce-distributing body 58 that has the shape of a truncated sphere. Asused herein, the phrase “shape of a truncated sphere” applies to“generally has the shape of a truncated sphere,” such as generally theshape of a hemisphere, such as generally the shape of a frustum of asphere, such as generally the shape of a frustum of a hemisphere, suchas generally the shape of a frustum of a hollow hemisphere, andoptionally a true frustum of a hollow hemisphere. The word “sphere,”applied to a hollow or solid, convex or concave object, has the ordinarydefinition of a three-dimensional surface, all points of which aresubstantially equidistant from a fixed point. The word “truncated” inthe context of a geometrical object has the ordinary meaning of havingthe apex cut off, preferably but not necessarily by a plane.

Force-distributing body 58 has a convex free-end first surface 62, aconcave second surface 66 disposed at an opposite side of first surface62, and a centrally-disposed spoke-receiving opening 70 that extendsthrough first surface 62 and second surface 66. A circular front edge 74is formed at the junction of first surface 62 and spoke-receivingopening 70, and an annular, planar rear edge 78 is formed at the rear offorce-distributing body 58. A cylindrical inner transition surface 82 isformed between front edge 74 and second surface 66, and a cylindricalouter transition surface 86 is formed between first surface 62 and rearedge 78. As a result of the foregoing structures, first surface 62 andsecond surface 66 each generally has the shape of a truncated sphere,such as generally the shape of a hemisphere, such as generally the shapeof a frustum of a sphere, such as generally the shape of a frustum of ahemisphere, and optionally a true frustum of a hemisphere.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first surface 62 of force-distributing member54 is structured to engage contact surface 38 a of first spoke-mountingopening 38 in hub flange 22 a, and second surface 66 offorce-distributing member 54 is structured to engage contact surface 50c of spoke head 50 b. The same is true when spokes 50 are mounted inopenings 30 and 34 in hub flanges 18 a and in the other openings 38 and42 in hub flanges 22 a. The portion of each contact surface 30 a, 34 a,38 a and 42 a that engages first surface 62 of a correspondingforce-distributing member 54 generally has the shape of a truncatedsphere, such as generally the shape of a hemisphere, such as generallythe shape of a frustum of a sphere, such as generally the shape of afrustum of a hemisphere, and optionally a true frustum of a hemisphere.

When spoke 50 is mounted to hub flange 22 a in the rest position shownin FIG. 1, spoke 50 defines a longitudinal rest-position axis L thataligns with a flange-opening axis F. Contact surface 38 a of firstspoke-mounting opening 38 and first surface 62 of force-distributingmember 54 form a ball joint when spoke 50 is mounted to hub flange 22 a.As a result, spoke 50 can be mounted at any angle relative to hub flange22 a. Furthermore, spoke 50 can gyrate or otherwise move in anydirection relative to axes F and L as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1.In this embodiment, contact surface 50 c of spoke head 50 a and secondsurface 66 of force-distributing member 54 also form a ball joint whenspoke 50 is mounted to hub flange 22 a so that spoke 50 can gyrate orotherwise move in any direction relative to axes F and L. The same istrue when spokes 50 are mounted in openings 30 and 34 in hub flanges 18a and in the other openings 38 and 42 in hub flanges 22 a. As a result,hub flanges 18 a and 22 a can accommodate any motion of spokes 50 causedby lateral forces applied to the wheel rim, thereby avoiding undesirablestresses to spokes 50 during operation of the bicycle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of aforce-distributing apparatus in the form of a force-distributing member90, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.In this embodiment, force-distributing member 90 comprises aforce-distributing body 94 including a first portion 98 and a secondportion 102. A convex first surface 106 is disposed on first portion 98,a second surface 110 is disposed on second portion 102, and aspoke-receiving opening 114 extends through first portion 98 and secondportion 102 to form a spoke-receiving axis S (FIG. 5). An annular,planar front edge 118 is formed at the front of force-distributing body94, and an annular, planar rear edge 122 is formed at the rear offorce-distributing body 94. A generally cylindrical outer transitionsurface 126 is formed between first surface 106 and second surface 110,and an annular beveled surface 128 is formed between second surface 110and rear edge 122. Second surface 110 is tapered relative tospoke-receiving axis S so that a radius R1 of second surface 110 atouter transition surface 126 is greater than a radius R2 of secondsurface 110 at beveled surface 128. In this embodiment, first surface106 generally has the shape of a truncated sphere, such as generally theshape of a hemisphere, such as generally the shape of a frustum of asphere, such as generally the shape of a frustum of a hemisphere, andoptionally a true frustum of a hemisphere. Second surface 110 generallyhas a conical shape, such as generally the shape of a truncated cone,such as generally the shape of a frustum of a cone, and optionally atrue frustum of a cone.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a plurality of modified spokes 50′ mountedto hub flange 22 a, for example, using force-distributing member 90.Each spoke 50′ has a modified spoke head 50 e in the form of ahemisphere with a flat annular surface 50 f that contacts rear edge 122of a corresponding force-distributing member 90 when spoke 50′ ismounted to flange 22 a.

Hub flanges 18 a and 22 a have the same structure as in the firstembodiment. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, as in the first embodiment, firstsurface 106 of each force-distributing member 90 is structured to engagea corresponding contact surface (e.g., contact surface 42 a) of aspoke-mounting opening (e.g., second spoke-mounting opening 42). Firstsurface 106 of force-distributing member 90 and contact surface 42 a ofsecond spoke-mounting opening 42 form a ball joint when spoke 50′ ismounted to hub flange 22 a. As a result, as in the first embodiment,spoke 50′ can be mounted at any angle relative to hub flange 22 a, andspoke 50′ can gyrate or otherwise move in any direction relative to axesF and L in response to lateral forces applied to the bicycle wheel.

While the above is a description of various embodiments of inventivefeatures, further modifications may be employed without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, while innertransition surface 82 in the first embodiment was smooth, FIG. 7A showsan embodiment wherein an inner transition surface 82′ aforce-distributing body 58′ of a force-distributing member 54′ forms, atleast in part, a threaded inner peripheral surface 132 to form athreaded opening 70′ so that a threaded end of a spoke can be screweddirectly into force-distributing body 58′. If desired, as shown in FIG.7B, a modified second surface 66′ may partially or completely close offthe rear of spoke-receiving opening 70. FIG. 7B shows second surface 66′completely closing off the rear of spoke receiving opening 70 so thatspoke receiving opening 70 is a blind opening, preferably with thethreaded inner transition surface 82′ shown in FIG. 7A.

While spoke-receiving opening 114 in the second embodiment extendedthrough both front edge 118 and rear edge 122 of force-distributing body94 as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of aforce-distributing body 94′ wherein a rear wall 136 partially orcompletely closes off the rear of a spoke-receiving opening 114′. FIG. 8shows rear wall 136 completely closing off the rear of spoke-receivingopening 114′ so that spoke-receiving opening 114′ is a blind opening. Athreaded inner peripheral surface 140 is formed, at least in part,around spoke-receiving opening 114′ so that a threaded end of a spokecan be screwed directly into force-distributing body 94′.

While the spoke-receiving opening in each of the above embodiments wasformed concentrically in the force-distributing member, additionalbenefits can be obtained by forming the spoke-receiving openingeccentrically in the force-distributing member. For example, FIGS. 9-10illustrate another embodiment of a force-distributing member 90″ similarto force-distributing member 90 in FIGS. 4-5. The parts offorce-distributing member 90″ that are the same as force distributingmember 90 are numbered the same. In this embodiment, a spoke-receivingopening 114″ is formed eccentrically within a force-distributing body94″ of force-distributing member 90″.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, an unthreaded spoke receivingopening 114″ is formed by an inner peripheral surface 94 a offorce-distributing body 94″ and defines a spoke-receiving-axis S that isoffset from but parallel to a force-distributing-body axis B that isconcentric with force-distributing body 94″. As a result, a thickness T1of the upper portion of force-distributing body 94″ at front edge 118 isless than a thickness T2 of the lower portion of force-distributing body94″ at front edge 118, a thickness T3 of the upper portion offorce-distributing body 94″ at outer transition surface 126 is less thana thickness T4 of the lower portion of force-distributing body 94″ atouter transition surface 126, and a thickness T5 of the upper portion offorce-distributing body 94″ at rear edge 122 is less than a thickness T6of the lower portion of force-distributing body 94″ at rear edge 122.Second surface 110 is tapered relative to force-distributing-body axis Bso that a radius R1 of second surface 110 at outer transition surface126 is greater than a radius R2 of second surface 110 at beveled surface128. Thus, when force-distributing member 90″ is mounted to a hub flange22 a with a spoke 50′ as shown in FIG. 11, spoke 50′ abuts against aninner peripheral surface 42 b of a spoke-mounting flange 22, andrest-position axis L of spoke 50′ is offset from flange-opening axis F.As a result, the lower portion of force-distributing body 94″ pressesagainst contact surface 42 a of spoke-mounting opening 42, therebycreating a frictional force that inhibits force-distributing member 90″from rotating relative to contract surface 42 a and preventing spoke 50′from unscrewing from the nut at the wheel rim.

FIGS. 12-13 illustrate another embodiment of a force-distributing member150. Force distributing member 150 comprises a generallycylindrically-shaped force-distributing body 154, an annular, planarfront edge 158 with a beveled edge 162, an annular, planar rear edge166, and an unthreaded spoke-receiving opening 170 that is formedeccentrically within force-distributing body 154.

As shown in FIG. 13, spoke receiving opening 170 is formed by an innerperipheral surface 154 a of force-distributing body 154 and defines aspoke-receiving-axis S that is offset from but parallel to aforce-distributing-body axis B that is concentric withforce-distributing body 154. As a result, a thickness T1 of the upperportion of force-distributing body 154 at front edge 158 is less than athickness T2 of the lower portion of force-distributing body 154 atfront edge 158, and a thickness T3 of the upper portion offorce-distributing body 154 at an outer peripheral surface 154 b offorce-distributing body 154 is less than a thickness T4 of the lowerportion of force-distributing body 154 at outer peripheral surface 154b. Thus, as shown in FIG. 14, when force-distributing member 150 ismounted with a spoke 50′ within a cylindrically-shaped bore 42 a′ of amodified spoke mounting opening 42′ of a modified hub flange 22 a′,spoke 50′ abuts against an inner peripheral surface 42 b ofspoke-mounting flange 22 a′, and rest-position axis L of spoke 50′ isoffset from flange-opening axis F. As a result, the lower portion offorce-distributing body 154 presses against an inner peripheral surface42 c of cylindrically-shaped bore 42 a′, thereby creating a frictionalforce that prevents force-distributing member 154 from rotating relativeto inner peripheral surface 42 c and preventing spoke 50′ fromunscrewing from the nut at the wheel rim.

The size, shape, location or orientation of the various components maybe changed as desired. Components that are shown directly connected orcontacting each other may have intermediate structures disposed betweenthem. Separate components may be combined, and vice versa. The functionsof one element may be performed by two, and vice versa. The function ofone element may be performed by another, and functions may beinterchanged among the elements. The structures and functions of oneembodiment may be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary forall advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the sametime. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or incombination with other features, also should be considered a separatedescription of further inventions by the applicant, including thestructural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Termsof degree such as “substantially,” “about” and “approximately” as usedherein include a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified termsuch that the end result is not significantly changed. Thus, the scopeof the invention should not be limited by the specific structuresdisclosed or the apparent initial focus or emphasis on a particularstructure or feature.

What is claimed is:
 1. A force distributing apparatus for a bicyclewheel spoke, wherein the apparatus comprises: a force-distributing bodyhaving an external surface, wherein the external surface includes afree-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an oppositeaxial side of the first surface; wherein the first surface is disposedon a first portion of the force-distributing body; wherein the secondsurface is disposed on a second portion of the force-distributing body;wherein the first surface has the shape of a truncated sphere; whereinthe force-distributing body includes a spoke-receiving opening thatextends into the first portion to form a spoke-receiving axis; andwherein the second surface is tapered relative to the spoke-receivingaxis.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first surfacehas the shape of a frustum of a sphere.
 3. The apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein the second surface has a conical shape.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein the second surface has the shape of atruncated cone.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the secondsurface has the shape of a frustum of a cone.
 6. The apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein the first surface has the shape of a frustum of asphere, and wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of acone.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spoke-receivingopening is a blind opening.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1wherein the spoke-receiving opening extends completely through theforce-distributing body.
 9. A force distributing apparatus for a bicyclewheel spoke, wherein the spoke is structured to be mounted to a hubflange of a bicycle wheel hub, wherein the hub flange includes anopening with a flange-opening axis, and wherein the apparatus comprises:a force-distributing body having an external surface, wherein theexternal surface includes: a free-end first surface disposed on a firstportion of the force-distributing body; and a second surface disposed atan opposite axial side of the first surface on a second portion of theforce-distributing body; wherein the force-distributing body furtherincludes a spoke-receiving opening that extends into the first portionto form a spoke-receiving axis; wherein the first surface is structuredto engage the hub flange when the spoke is mounted to the hub flange;wherein the second surface is tapered relative to the spoke-receivingaxis; and wherein at least one of the first surface or the secondsurface is shaped to allow the spoke to move in any lateral directionrelative to the flange-opening axis.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9 wherein the first surface is shaped to allow the spoke to movein any lateral direction relative to the flange-opening axis when thespoke is mounted to the hub flange.
 11. The apparatus according to claim9 wherein the first surface has the shape of a truncated sphere.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 11 wherein the first surface has the shapeof a frustum of a sphere.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 9 whereinthe second surface has a conical shape.
 14. The apparatus according toclaim 13 wherein the second surface has a shape of a truncated cone. 15.The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the second surface has ashape of a frustum of a cone.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 9wherein the first surface has the shape of a frustum of a sphere, andwherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a cone.
 17. Theapparatus according to claim 9 wherein the spoke-receiving opening is ablind opening.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein thespoke-receiving opening extends completely through theforce-distributing body.